Boys rubs his eyes in the pool.

Summer Triggers That Can Worsen Dry Eye Symptoms

Do your eyes feel dryer than usual? Summer weather may be to blame for dryness, redness, burning, itching, blurry vision, and other dry eye symptoms. Understanding the triggers that cause dry eye symptoms and learning what you can do about them could make your summer much more comfortable.

6 Summer Dry Eye Triggers

More than 20% of people in North America experience dry eye symptoms, according to systematic review and meta-analysis published in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye in 2025. If you're one of the 20%, you know how quickly dry eye symptoms can ruin your day.

Common summer dry eye triggers include:

  • Bright Sun and High Heat. The heat from the sun dries out the thin layer of tears that keeps your eyes moist and comfortable. Tears also evaporate more quickly on hot, sunny days, leaving your eyes feeling dry and uncomfortable.
  • Wind. Many summer activities, including cycling, boating, sports, and spending the day at the beach or pool expose your eyes to the wind. Wind speeds tear evaporation and also carries dust, debris, and allergens that may irritate your eyes. Air flow from fans is just as drying and may trigger dry eye symptoms.
  • Smoke. Do you enjoy grilling or spending a relaxing evening in front of a firepit? Smoke from grills and firepits may irritate your eyes and cause premature evaporation of tears.
  • Air-Conditioning. Air-conditioning removes humidity from the air, making dry eye symptoms worse. Frontiers in Toxicology reviewed several research studies that reported a link between low humidity and dry eye in a 2023 review article.
  • Chlorine and Saltwater. Cooling off at the beach or pool are excellent ways to spend a hot summer day, but spending time in the water can be a problem if your eyes tend to be dry. Chlorine and saltwater irritate the eyes and may make dry eye symptoms worse.
  • Seasonal Allergies. Summer heat might not be the only reason your eyes feel extra dry. Seasonal allergies inflame the eye and decrease tear production. Allergies may also decrease oil production in the eye's meibomian glands. Oil produced by the glands slows tear evaporation. Do you take allergy medication? Medications that contain antihistamines relieve sneezing, runny noses, and watery eyes, but tend to dry the eye.

Avoiding Dry Eye Triggers

Taking these precautions may reduce your dry eye symptoms this summer:

  • Limit Outdoor Time on Hot Days
  • Shade Your Eyes with Sunglasses That Offer 100% Protection from UVA and UVB Light. (Wraparound sunglasses offer complete protection for your eyes and also protect your eyes from wind).
  • Wear Swimming Goggles to Prevent Irritation Caused by Saltwater or Chlorine
  • Don't Sit Next to Fans or Air-Conditioning Vents
  • Add Moisture to Air-Conditioned Rooms with a Small Humidifier
  • Put on a Hat to Reduce Sun Exposure
  • Stand or Sit Upwind from Firepits and Grills
  • Lubricate Your Eyes with Artificial Tears Throughout the Day and Before Venturing Outside in Sunny or Windy Conditions
  • Stay Inside When Pollen and Other Allergens Are High
  • Close the Windows if the Allergen Level Is High
  • Look for Preservative-Free Antihistamine Eye Drops to Reduce Dryness
  • Fill Up on Water, the Primary Component of Tears
  • Don't Rub Your Eyes (Rubbing can lead to a corneal abrasion, a painful scratch on the clear outer surface of the eye.)

Are you still struggling with dry eye despite trying these tips? Your optometrist offers treatments and strategies designed to improve your comfort. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor.

Sources:

WebMD: Managing Dry Eyes During Summer Months, 5/29/2024

https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/dry-eye-summer-months

Frontiers in Toxicology: The Environment and Dry Eye – Manifestations, Mechanisms, and More, 8/22/2023

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/toxicology/articles/10.3389/ftox.2023.1173683/full

America Academy of Ophthalmology: 5 Ways to Get Your Eyes Summer-Ready, 4/28/2017

https://www.aao.org/salud-ocular/consejos/5-ways-to-get-your-eyes-summer-ready

SUNY College of Optometry: Saving Your Eyes from the Summer Heat, 8/12/2020

https://www.sunyopt.edu/saving-your-eyes-from-the-summer-heat/

Contact Lens and Anterior Eye: Global Prevalence of Dry Eye: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 4/2025

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1367048426000238

University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology: Are Seasonal Allergy Medications Causing Your Dry Eye Symptoms?, 3/17/2025

https://news.cuanschutz.edu/ophthalmology/seasonal-allergy-medications-antihistamines-dry-eye